Car-step register



1 Jan. 23, 1923. 1,443,272

G. D. ONOFRIO, CAR STEP REGISTER. FILED MAR. H, 1920.

INVENTOR Patented Jan. 23, 1923.

UNITED STATES GABRIELID. ONOFRIO, OF IBINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

CAR-STEP REGISTER.

Application filed March 11, 1920. Serial No. 365,043.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GABRIEL D. ONOFRIO, a. citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Known as a Ca1=Step Register, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an attachment placed under a platform on a street car or other vehicle in'nnediately next to the steps of the vehicle connected with a register so that when the passenger steps on the car it registers his entrance.

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of car-step register mechanism embodying this invention with certain parts removed and other parts shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of certain of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

A and H represent the two steps of the vehicle. Step A is connected with the side of the steps by a rod B running through the centre of step A so that the ends of the step X and Y are loose and can give way as many inches as is desired.

Lever F0 is loosely fastened to the side of the steps by a pivot bolt at E, the end C being disposed in the path of the counter weight T attached to the end X. F is immediately under the V end of the step H. Step H is connected with the side of the steps by a rod I running through the centre of step H.

Lever LR is loosely fastened to the side of the step by a bolt at M. K is a pin which may be engaged by the F end of lever (1F to support the end of step H.

Rod 1. is connected to the L end of the lever LR. .Rod 1 is loosely connected to rod 2 by a bolt at 3. Rod 2 is so constructed that the end of it can fit into rod 5 at point 4t about one inch.

A special platform 11 as wide and long as is desired lies over this attachment. The platform 11 is held fast by hinges on the inner side at 8, and is loose so that it can give way as much as is desired on the outer end of the platform, or the end nearer the step. To the outer or loose end of this platform, is fixedly attached bracket 10 so that when weight is applied on the loose end of the platform, it is forced down an inch or two as is desired. and bracket 10 is pushed down an equal distance.

Attached to bracket 10 is lever 9, which is fulcrumed to the stationary platform 19 at bracket 20. Attached to lever 9 so that it can be afiixed to any point is a slidingweight 21. Attached to the 13 end of lever 31) is link Attached to link 28 is lever 22, which is fulcrumed to the stationary platform 11) at bracket 23. Lever 22 is attached. to rod 5 which runs toward the register and is attached to the register by a short lever 7, at the end of and. substantially perpendicular to rod 5.

On rod 5 at a point at is an opening into which one end of rod 2 may extend.

This is the way the attachment operates:

When the passenger steps on the lower step of the vehicle, the weight on the outer end, Y, causes X, the inner end of the step, to rise, the step being fast only through the centre of it by the rod B. As the inner end, X, is raised, it causes the C end of the FC lever to move up, and the F end to move away from the V end of the step H. The passenger having by this time placed his other foot on the second step at the outer end, V, and the step being fastened through the centre, the weight on the V end of the step causes the W end to rise. As it rises, it causes the R end of the lever R-L to rise. As it rises, the L end of the lever BL is pushed out, causing the rod 2, which is attached to the L end of the lever RL, to come out of the opening 4 in rod 5.

The passenger next stepping on the loose end of the platform, the loose end 11 gives way. Inasmuch as the bracket 10 and lever 5.) move with the platform, as weight is applied on the loose end of the platform, causing the 12 end of lever 9 to descend, the 13 end of lever S) rises, and as it rises, the link 28 rises, and causes the Z end of the lever to rise. As it rises, the lever 22 being fulcrumed to the fixed bracket 23, the ZZ end of lever 22 descends, thereby moving rod 5 downwardly and causing the register 6 to register. Pins PP and RR are placed as indicated to suitably limit the upward movement of the edges W and X of the steps H and A, respectively.

21 is a sliding weight which can be set by tightening a screw. By varying the po sition of the weight 21, a different weight must be applied on the platform in order to cause the attachment to register. The rod 5 running up to the register must be encased to prevent passengers from putting their hands on it and preventing it from working.

ill)

Pin SS prevents the X end of the A step from going too low, while pin TT prevents the W end of the H step from falling too low.

Inasmuch as the X end of the step A. is heavier than the Y end because the weight T isattached to it, as soon as the passenger removes his foot from the Y end of step A, the X end is lowered and the Y end is raised again. As the passenger removes his foot from the V end of the step H, the lV end of the step is lowered because of the weight I.) attached to that end of the step. As the end of the step is lowered, the weight on (I urges the F end of the lever lfU to place itself under the pin l; on the V end of the step H. i

As the VV end of the step ll is lowered, the R end of the lever ill; is loivmicd because of the weight of D. That causes the L end to be forced in toward the rod and forces rod 1 and causes the end of rod 2 to enter the opening 4.

Hence, when the passenger steps forth on his way out of the car, upon ste pin,e; upon the platform 11, rod2, having placed itself into opening 4, the rod 5 fails to cause the machine to register. lVhen the passenger steps on step H, the F end of lever FC being immediately under the pin K on the V end of the step fl is held against downward movement.

By altering the position of 21, a differei'it Weight necessary to cause the attachment to operate may be secured.

I claim:

1. In an automatic passenger registering device for vehicles, a platform and a step leading thereto, a part of said platform comprising the end portion thereof adjacent to said step being hinged at its inner edge for downward movement in response to the tread of passengers thereon, a register operatively connected by levers and links and brackets for actuation in response to downward movement of said platform part, a Weight arranged on one of said levers for resisting; such movement and restoring said platform part, said weight being); adjustable for permitting response only to the tread of passengers of desired predetermined weight, a hinge support for the inner edpe of said step, a counterweight to normally raise the outer edge of said step, and normally operative locking means for the platform part and register releasable by tilting of said step to permit actuation of said platform part and register only when saidstep is tread upon by a person in the act of entering the vehicle.

2. In an automatic passenger registering device for cars, the combination with a car platform having a hinged end part, and an automatic passenger register mounted above the platform and provided with an operating lever, of. a bracket li ed to the under side of the hinged platform part, a second bracket fixed to the under side of a stationary part of the platform, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the last named bracket and pivoted at one of its ends to the first named bracket, a third bracket mounted inwardly of the second named bracket and terminating in a higher plane, a second lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the third named bracket and connected at one end to the other end of the firs named lever by means of a link, and a vertical push rod slidable through the stationary part of the platform and pivotally attached at its ends respectively to the re operating lever and said last named. lei ,i'.

3. In an auton'iatic passe ger reaistering device for cars, the combination with car platform having a hinged end part, and an automatic passenger re; ster mounted above the platform and provided with an operating' lever, of a bracket fixed to the vunder side of the hinged platform part, a second bracket fixed to the under side of a stationary part of the platform, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the last named bracket and pivoted at one of its ends to the first named bracket, a thirdbracket mounted inwardly of the second named bracket and terminating; in a higher plane, a second lever pivoted intern'iediate its ends to the third named bracket and connected at one end to the other end of the first named lever by means of a link, a vertical push rod slidable through the stationary part of the platform and pivotally attached at its ends respectively to the register operating lever and said last named lever, a step leading to the hinged platform part and tiltably mounted below the latter, said push rod having a keeper eye, a lock bolt slidably mounted beneath the stationary part of the platform in position to engage in said keeper eye when the hinged platform part is normally horizontally disposed for preventing operation of the part, and means operatively connecting said lock bolt with said tiltable step for releasing; said bolt when said step is tilted.

i. In an automatic passenger registering device for cars, the combination with a car platform having a hinged end part, and an. automatic passenger register mounted above the platform and provided with an operating lever, of a bracket fixed to the under side of the hinged platform part, a second bracket fixed to the under side of a stationary part of the platform, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the last named bracket and pivoted at one of its ends to the first named bracket, a third bracket mounted inwardly of the second named bracket and terminating in a higher plane, a second lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the third register and tilting); of the platformnamed bracket and connected at one end to the other end of the first named lever by means of a link, a vertical push rod slidable through the stationary part of the platform and pivotally attached at its ends respectively to the register operating lever and said last named lever, a step leading to the hinged platform part and tiltably mounted below the latter, said push rod having a keeper eye, a lock bolt slidably mounted beneath the stationary part of the platform in position to engage in said keeper eye when the hinged platform part is normally horizontally disposed for preventing operation of the register and tilting of the platform part, means operatively connecting said lock bolt with said tiltable step for releasing said. bolt when said step is tilted, said last named means embodying an upwardly and, inwardly extending arm movable with the tiltable step and fixed relative thereto, said arm being counterweighted to retain the step normally horizontally disposed, a bell crank lever, and a link, said link being connected to an arm of the bell crank lever and to the lock bolt, and the other arm of said bell crank lever being associated with said upwardly and inwardly extending arm whereby tilting of the step will cause swinging of the bell crank lever in an outward. direction.

5. In an automatic passenger registering device for cars, the combination with a car platform having a hinged end part, and an automatic passenger register mounted above the platform and provided with an operating lever, of a bracket fixed to the under side of the hinged platform part, a second bracket fixed to the under side of a stationary part of the platform, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the last named bracket and pivoted at one of its ends to the first named bracket, a third bracket mounted inwardly of the second named bracket and terminating in a higher plane, a second lever pivoted intermediate its ends to the third named bracket and connected at one end to the other end of the first named lever by means of a link, a vertical push rod slidable through the stationary part of the platform and pivotally attached at its ends respectively to the register operating lever and said last named lever, a step leading to the hinged platform part and tiltably mounted below the latter, said push rod having a keeper eye, a lock bolt slidably mounted beneath the stationary part ofthe platform in position to engage in said keeper eye when the hinged platform part is normally horizontally disposed for preventing operation of the register and tilting of the platform part, means operatively connecting said lock bolt with said tiltable step for releasing said bolt when said step is tilted, said last named means embodying an upwardly and inwardly extending arm movable with the tiltable step and fixed relative thereto, said arm being counter-weighted to retain the step normally horizontally disposed, a bell crank lever, a link, said link being connected to an arm of the bell crank lever and to the lock bolt and the other arm of said bell crank lever being associated with said upwardly and inwardly extending arm whereby tilting of the step will cause swinging of the bell crank lever in an outward direction, a further tiltable step mounted below the first named tiltable step and having a counterweighted upwardly and inwardly extending arm normally holding the same horizontally disposed, and a further bell crank lever associated with the last named arm of the lower tiltable step and with the under side of the first named tiltable step whereby said last named bell crank lever prevents tilting of the first named tiltable step normally but is released therefrom when the last named tiltable step is tilted.

GABRIEL D. ONOFRIO. Witnesses:

ANTHONY Frsonn'r'rn, Room: P. CLARK. 

